The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-01-28
FROM WASHINGTON.
creenleaf's Chances for the Lewis
ton Post office Very Slim.
a Dark Horse Said to be Training for
the Place.
The Move to Have Senators Attend
Prayers.
More Pensions Granted to Claimants
In Maine
Interesting News and Gossip from
the Capital.
Especial to the Press. /

WASHINGTON, JAN ~.
A gentleman, who may be supposed to
know whereof he speaks, said to your cor
respondent today in regard to the Lewiston
post Office:
"You may consider one thing as practically
certain, and that is Levi Greeuleaf win not
receive the appointment
The contest is beginning to grow interest
ing. although it has by no means reached its
height as yet 1t is reported that quite
strong influences have been brought to bear
recently in favor Of dark horse, who has
been but little mentioned up to this time, but
with what chances of success is not yet
clear. A large delegation Of Lewiston poll
ticians is expected here within the next
week, and lively contest is looked for. At
this time no prediction can safely be made,
except that it will probably not be Greenleaf.
Senatorial ITreverence.
The Senate of the United States has upon
its rolls chaplain to whom an annual salary
of $500 is paid. 1t has often been wondered
what this Office was for. The presence Of
more than three Of the Senators in the cham
Der when the opening prayer is made, is
sufficiently rare occurrence to call forth COM
ment thereon from the galleries. Generally
chamber unoccupied save by the pages and
other officers of the Senate, with perhaps
one or two Senators, is what greets the chap
lain when promptly at noon on each day he
enters the. door at the left of the presiding
officers chair and aseends the platform to
invoke the Divine blessing upon the work Of
the day. Senator Hoar yesterday presented
an amendment to the rules of the Senate,
which is intended to correct this. 1t provides
that the presiding officer shall take his seat
promptly at the hour to which the Senate
adjourned, and after quorum shall be OBJ
tanned prayer shall be offered by the chap
lain and the journal Of the previous days
proceedings shall be read.
In presenting the amendment Senator Hoar
said that he thought the present disgraceful
method Of procedure had continued long
enough, and that if the Senate was to employ
a chaplain they should at least pay enough
attention to his services to be present at the
morning prayer. If the rule is adopted,
there will be likely to be some delay in or
ganizing the Senate for the first few days
until the Senators get used to it. At present
they generally remain in their committee
rooms until after the journal is read and
then come trooping in by twos, threes, etc.,
in time for the morning business.
Postmaster Commissioned.
John II. Austin has been commissioned
postmaster at North Lamoine, Me.
Pensions Granted.
Pensions have been granted to the follow
ing Maine claimants
Mary X, widow of Josiah P. Nickerson,
Brighton.
Eila NJ. widow Of Milton E. H. Dunn, West
Sumner.
Amos r. Walls original, ST. Albans
James f. Tarr, original, Biddeford.
Reuben keene, original, Cooper.
Leyerett A Albee, reissue. Machias.
James A. Reed. restoration Bangor.